Bottling-machine



- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IVILLIAM H. FOYE, JR, AND IVILLIAM I-I. FOYE, SR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 441,477, dated November25, 1890.

Application filed November 7, 1889. Serial No. 329,596. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM H. FoYE, J r., and WILLIAM H. FOYE, Sr.,citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, county of Cook,State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Bottling-Machine, ofwhich the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in bottling-machines used inbottling fermented liquorsandotherfluids whichcontain carbonicacid gasor are to be charged with the same.

Our objects are, first, to provide a machine capable of adjustment toany size or shape of bottle; second, to force out the atmospheric aircontained in the bottle and fill the same with carbonic-acid gas; third,to fill the bottle with fluid and prevent the same from coming incontact with atmospheric air, if desired, thereby preventing the escapeof carbonic-acid gas and preserving the life and aroma of the fluid;fourth, to saturate the fluid with carbonic-acid gas, when required, bypressure and agitation, and, fifth, to cork and secure the sameby'wiring before removing the bottle from the machine, if desired.

We accomplish these objects by mechanism illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein similar reference-letters apply to same orcorresponding parts.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is across-section in the direction of its length ;of a device for stopperingbottles where inside stoppers are used. Fig. 3 is a cross-section in thedirection of its length of the bottle-seat. Fig. 4 is a cross-section inthe direction of its length of the corkingtube. Fig. 5 is across-section in the direction of its length of the corking-tube on theline 0 0, Fig. 4.

A and at their upper ends to cross-piece a, which constitute the upperstationary frame. The standards 0 O and cross-pieces K K constituteagitating-frame. The cross-pieces K K are provided with double bosses attheir outer ends. The standards 0 O at their lower ends are secured tolower cross-piece K by nuts on the inner bosses and pass through innerbosses of upper cross-piece K and crosspiece a of the upper stationaryframe. The outer bosses of the cross-pieces K K are fitted to slide upand down on the standards H H of the upper stationary frame. In thecenter of lower cross-piece K is bottle-seat L, raised and lowered bywheel and screw 1'. In center of upper cross-piece K is the corking-tubeM, held in position by set-screw V. Bottle-seat L and corking-tube M areillustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. 011 the top of left-hand standard 0 of theagitating-frame is link d, secured by pin y to corking-lever c. Securedto corking-lever e, directly over and above corkingtube M, isthe'cork-follower g, which forces the cork though corking-tube M intothe neck of the bottle. On the outer end of. lever e is ratchet k, whichengages rack h, secured to the standard 0 of agitating-frame and permitslever e to be secured in any position required. The upper cross-piece Kof the agitating-frame is capable of being raised or lowered to anydesired height and secured to standards 0 O of the agitating-frame byset-screws t t on inner bosses. v

Fig. 2 is a cross-section in the direction of its length of a device forstoppering bottles, having inside stoppers which are not wired down. 2is a stuffing-box, which is packed to resist heavy pressure of gas. Jshows portion of shaft which passes through stuffing-box z, and isprovided with a hook at its lower end, which engages loop ofbottle-stopper and closes same. 1., similar to cork-follower g, Fig. 1.The device is secured to the upper cross-piece K of the agitating-frameby set-screw V, similar to corking-tube M of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the bottle-seat in direction of its length.The seat L is forced up anddown by means of wheel and screw 1 whichengages thread on inside of shaft R. The slot and feather m prevent thebottle- The shaft J is attached to lever e, Fig.

seat L from turning aroundby the action of the screw. A cam or eccentricmay be substituted for hand-wheel and screw, if desired.

Fig. 4. shows a cross-section in direction of its length of thecorking-tube and a portion of the cork-follower g, in which ff are holesand slots, through which wire is passed when securing cork in bottle. 3is the opening into and through which cork is forced by lever e, Fig. 1,acting on follower g, Fig. 1, and is compressed to the size of the neckof the bottle by the gradual contraction of the passageway. a 'n' n" areinclined openings, through which fluid, gas, or air may flow,-asdesired. These openings are inclined inward and downward to avoidcutting of cork by its expansion into the openings n n n", andconsequent friction would occur (were these openings not inclined)against their sharp edges, causing pieces of cork to enter the bottlewith the fluid. The lower end of corking-tube has recess 0' T, which isfitted with elastic packing, against which top of bottle is firmlysecured by action of hand-wheel and. screw 11', Fig. 1, on thebottle-seat L, Fig. 1 On the outside of corking-tube,intersectinginclined openings at n n", are horizontal openings w as, into whichstop-cocks p p are secured. To the outer ends of stop-cocks p p areattached flexible tubes leading to vent T, Fig. 1, tap P, Fig. 1, andthe governor S, Fig. 1, of gas-flask.

Fig. 5 is a cross-section in direction of its length of the corking-tubeon the line 0 0, Fig. 4, in which 19 is the air-cock. (Not visible onthe corking-tube M, Fig. 1.)

'Referring now to Fig. 1, it will readily be i seen with theconstruction there shown that when shaft D is turned around theconnecting-rod F throws the agitating-frame O O K K up and down, whichis supported and guided by sliding on the standards H H of the upperstationary frame.

In the operation of our machine, first place the bottle on bottle-seatL, adjust upper crosspiece K of the agitating-frame to the desiredheight from top of bottle, and secure it to standards 0 O of theagitating-frame by set screws 15 t, indicated on inner bosses. Raisecorking-lever e, thus lifting cork-follower g,

place a cork in corking-tube M and force it down by means of lever e andfollower 9 almost to the inclined openings 91 n n, Fig. 4.. Forcebot-tle up against the elastic packing 'r r, Fig. 4, by turninghand-wheel and screw 1'. This makes the connection of the bottle withthe corking-tube M gas and liquid tight. e ,now open gas-cock 13'leading to governor S of gas-tank, and admit slight flow of gas, which,being of greater weight than the atmospheric air in the bottle and underpressure, forces the air into the neck of the same. Open air-cock p",Fig. 5, on the farther side of the corking-tnbe M, allowing airtoescape.

The bottle now contains only carbonic-acid open gas-cock 19 leading tovent T in bar 'el,

thus creating pressure on surface of fluid contained therein. \Vhenbottle is full, shut off fluid-cock 19 leading to tap P in barrel andgas-cock 19 leading to governor S of the gas-tank.

Should it be desired to charge the fluid in the bottle with more gasthan it now contains, open gas-cock 19 leading to governor S ofgas-tank, which is set at the required pressure. Start the machine,agitate for a few seconds, and it will be found that the fluid will havetaken up or absorbed the amount of gas at which the governor S of thegas-tank was set. Shut off gas-cock 13 leading to the governor S ofgas-tank, after having stopped the machine, force cork into the neck ofthe bottle by pullihg down lever e, and turn hand-wheel and screw 11down, still pulling down on corking-lever (2' till the follower g showsthe holes and slots below the corking-tube M for passing wire. Thecorkinglever is now firmly heldin place by ratchet is, leaving bothhands free to pass wire through the slots and holes ff, Fig. 4:, in endof corkfollower g, and secure cork in neck of bottle by twisting wire.Release lever c and remove bottle.

We prefer to operate our machine horizontally when filling or chargingheavy vessels, thus avoiding a correspondiugly-heavy counterbalance ondriving-wheel.

We are aware that prior to our invention machines have been used formixing fluids by agitation.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Let ters Patent, is-

1. In combination, the bottle-supporting frame comprising alower seat,acorking-tube to bear upon the mouth of the bottle, a corkfollowerworking through the said cork-tube, means for operating saidcork-follower, valved flexible connections leading from said tube, allof said parts being movable vertically, and means for giving themvertical agitating movement, substantially as described.

2. In combination, a bottle-holding frame, with means for applying thecork, connections to a reservoir and to a gas-supply, and means foragitating the bottle-frame, substantially as described.

ITO

